Foreign domestic workers' group Labour Department demands monthly salary increase to 6,300, increase food allowance: salary depreciation, no money for retirement
New policy for foreign domestic workers is coming! Increase in the minimum wage for foreign domestic workers, 0-cost medical and hospitalization insurance, and low-interest loans. More food subsidies.
雇主提供醫療保险|住院保险|低息贷款,外佣无须额外花钱
medical care insurance | hospitalization insurance | low-interest loans
With the increase in the minimum wage to $4,990, the salary levels of foreign domestic workers have been significantly improved, ensuring that their hard work is duly rewarded. The high meal allowance allows them to enjoy delicious meals after work. Employers not only need to meet income requirements, but also need to provide zero-cost food, accommodation and medical insurance.
Low-interest loans （我今天急需用錢） - the actual annual interest rate is as low as 1.12%, helping foreign domestic workers to live a better life.
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Instalment Loan Product Facts Summary:
- The shortest repayment period is 3 months and the longest is 60 months.
- The maximum annual interest rate is 36%.
- The following is a brief description of loan-related fees for reference:
Loan amount: HK$10,000
6-month instalment loan, monthly repayment amount is HK$1,815
Interest rate: 0.16% per month
Annual interest rate: 0.08%
Total repayment amount: HK$10,890
The Hong Kong Asian Domestic Workers Union Federation called on the government to increase the monthly living wage for foreign domestic helpers to HK$6,300 and the monthly food allowance to HK$2,700.
In the past 26 years, the wages of foreign domestic workers have only increased by $1,010, a growth rate of only 26%.
On the contrary, Hong Kong's inflation rose by about 50% during the same period. It is pointed out that in addition to covering expenses in Hong Kong, workers' wages also have to support their relatives in their motherland.
After the epidemic, the inflation rates of various countries have risen sharply, describing that workers have worked hard for half their lives, have no savings, and need to borrow money in many cases. The federation said the proposal was based on Oxfam's living wage proposal, which deducts rent, utilities and food allowances paid by employers so that domestic workers can save for retirement.
Your employer should provide you with a air ticket from your place of residence to Hong Kong before the contract takes effect, and a zero-cost air ticket and travel expenses to return to your place of residence after the contract is completed/terminated.
医疗|住院保險 Purchase medical insurance
Employers must purchase employees' compensation insurance (commonly known as labor insurance) for their domestic workers in accordance with the provisions of the Employees' Compensation Ordinance. Failure to do so will constitute an offence and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of HK$100,000 and imprisonment for 2 years.
Employers may consider purchasing comprehensive insurance for domestic workers that covers both medical and labour insurance to cover related expenses when necessary.
雇主提供醫療 - 住院保險，牙科诊疗，种植牙.外佣无须额外花钱
Employers provide medical care - hospitalization insurance, dental treatment, dental implants. Foreign domestic workers do not need to spend extra money
When a domestic worker becomes sick or injured, whether or not it is caused by employment, the employer must provide the domestic worker with medical care, including consultation expenses, hospitalization expenses and dental treatment.
Employers should keep proper medical records provided by domestic workers. Under the current "Standard Employment Contract", employers are not required to bear the medical expenses of their domestic workers when they leave Hong Kong voluntarily and for personal reasons (e.g. to go back to their hometown for vacation).
An employer is required to pay sickness allowance to a domestic worker in the following circumstances:
The domestic worker has accumulated sufficient paid sick leave;
The number of sick leave taken is not less than 4 consecutive days;
and the Helper can produce an appropriate medical certificate (for antenatal check-up, in addition to the medical certificate, the Helper may also produce a medical attendance certificate).
A domestic worker can accumulate two days of paid sick leave for every completed month of employment within the first 12 months of employment; four days of paid sick leave for every completed month of employment thereafter. Paid sick leave can continue to accumulate throughout the period of employment, but must not exceed 120 days at any one time.
Unless a domestic worker is summarily dismissed for serious negligence, it is illegal for an employer to dismiss a domestic worker who is on paid sick leave and the employer may be prosecuted and, upon conviction, fined up to HK$100,000. See more